Singapore's Minister of State for Education and Defense visits Temple

Singapore’s Minister of State for Education and Defense, the Honorable Lawrence Wong visited Temple on April 26.

A delegation from Singapore's Ministry of Education called on Temple to discuss best practices for delivering education to non-traditional adults.

Many at Temple are familiar with the university's history and long-standing tradition of providing access and excellence in higher education for a student body with diverse backgrounds, interests and ages.

On April 26, Singapore’s Minister of State for Education and Defense, the Honorable Lawrence Wong, and a delegation from the Ministry of Education called on Temple to learn more about how the university fulfills this mission and to discuss best practices for delivering education to non-traditional adults.

"Singapore is a leader in higher education, and Temple is happy to exchange our knowledge base with the Singapore Ministry of Education,” said Richard Englert, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Temple is also eager to continue our work with the National University of Singapore on a range of initiatives.”

Temple's School of Pharmacy currently partners with NUS to provide courses in quality assurance through video conferencing.

Last week's information-gathering visit was part of the Singapore government’s initiative to provide adults in the nation with an opportunity to pursue higher education as non-traditional students.

"We welcome this opportunity to understand best practices in delivering adult and professional education," said Lawrence Wong, Singapore's Minister of State for Defense and Education.

Hai-Lung Dai, senior vice president for international affairs, and dean of the College of Science and Technology, described Temple's strategy this way: "We pursue excellence with a social conscience."

Dai explained that, in general, full-time, non-traditional age Temple students as well as part time adult students and returning veterans are all admitted into the same tracks toward graduation as traditional students.

Peter Jones, senior vice president for Undergraduate Studies, described for the delegation the critical role played by a strong advising program in the retention of non-traditional students, and Vicky McGarvey, vice provost of University College, emphasized how important the location and times of course offerings were in serving adult and part-time students.

Rajan Chandran, vice dean for Temple's Fox School of Business put it simply: "We started as a night school for working people. This is in our DNA at Temple."